The Sprout

Lighting the beacon for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012

The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley

Issue 168 June 2022

The Sprout

The Newsletter for North Hinksey & Botley

Directors: Janet Bartlam, Judi Bolder, John Clements,

Michael Cockman, Ag MacKeith, Robin Palmer

Editor

Ag MacKeith

South View House, Old Botley, OX2 0JR Tel: 724452 Editor@TheSprout.org.uk

Advertising Manager

Michael Cockman

50, St Paul's Crescent OX2 9AG Te l: 07766 317691 Adverts@TheSprout.org.uk

Deliveries

Jan Shirley and Isabelle Hayes

9, Sweetmans Road OX2 9BA 07706 606719 Deliveries@TheSprout.org.uk

Copy Date: Copy by 15th of month preceding publication. Earlier submission is

welcome. Later contributions may have to be held over to the next issue.

Advertisements: If you have print-ready advertisements in the correct format the

last day for booking advertising is the 10th of the month preceding publication; in all

other circumstances more advance notice will be needed. For details about exact

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the Advertising Manager.

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Subscriptions: If you live outside North Hinksey Parish you can still receive The

Sprout on a regular basis. Just take out a postal subscription – only £12 per annum,

delivered to your door. Contact: Carol Kramer 01865 243002.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information printed in this

newsletter, mistakes may happen. The Editor and Team apologize unreservedly for

any errors that may occur and will do their best to correct them. This publication is not

a vehicle of the parish council, and parish councillors working with the Sprout do so in

a personal capacity. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the individual

contributors.

All concerned in the production and delivery of The Sprout are unpaid volunteers.

The Sprout is printed by Dataprint Ltd, and published by North

Hinksey Parish Publications Ltd, (a company limited by

guarantee) Registration No. 05609535.

It can also be found online at BotleyHinksey.org.uk

The Sprout

Issue 168, June 2022

Contents

3 Marking the Jubilee

5 Brownies at Fifty

7 Medical Practice - Latest

11 Your District Councillors

14 Botley School Gets Chicks /

Botley in Bloom

15 Great Botley Bring and Take

17 Botley Arts – Tereza Barnard

19 Meet Grahame Godby

21 Pillow Talk

23 Hedgehog Highway

25 Osney Supercharge

27 Planning Applications

29 Pop-up Cafés

31 Talking Therapies

33 Scouts Go Canoeing

37 Randoms

39 Local Organizations

From the Editor

The Jubilee celebrations are coming closer – by the time you read this,

they will be just days away. The lighting of the beacon, with all the

attendant shenanigans, is scheduled for the evening of 2nd June (p3) and

on page 4 you will find details of the Jubilee Festival on Saturday 4th at

the new shopping precinct. Our cover shows the beacon being lit in 2012

at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Other things to look forward to include

the Pop-up cafés at the Pavilion (p29), Sustainable Botley’s ambitious Big

Bring and Take on 9th July (p15), and the Arts exhibition at St P&P is

worth a visit (p17). The Patient Participation Group is continuing to hold

the Botley Medical Practice to account (p7), the Brownies have reached

50 (p5), the XVth Scouts have been off on adventures (p33) and the 4th

Scouts are holding an exciting Community Fun Day at the Rugby Club on

18th June (p38). Animals get a look-in, with chicks at Botley School (p14),

hedgehogs on page 23, and on page 19 we meet Grahame Godby, of the

Four Paws Dog Training Club. There’s still time to enter your front garden

for Botley in Bloom – but only just: applications close on June 6th (p14).

All this and more in this month’s Sprout. Happy reading!

Ag MacKeith

JUBILEE UPDATE

What is there still to say?

The Jubilee Beacon Party on 2nd June will go ahead on the

Louie Memorial Playing Fields, whatever the weather. Let’s

just hope it’s fine. The beer tent, MUGA disco and barbecue

are all arranged, starting at 7pm. A Piper will lead us across

the field at 9.15, and play us up the hill. The candle lanterns

will be there for anyone who wants one, but at your own risk,

obviously. The path is narrow and rutted in places, and

marshals with torches will show you the way. Wear boots if

it’s rained. A choir will greet us at the top. The beacon will be

lit at 9.45 prompt, our part in the national beacon chain.

Hot chocolate at the pavilion when we come back down.

Here’s the recipe for the Jubilee Tart for those who want to make it

for their picnics:

You will need a 20cm flan tin, and some shortcrust pastry.

Assemble these for the filling:

• 100g smoked salmon (cd be trimmings) – for Scotland

• 50g leek, thinly sliced – for Wales

• 100g new potatoes – for N Ireland

• 70g cheddar cheese, grated – for England.

! 200ml single cream !2 large eggs, beaten ! tbs chopped parsley

Then:

1. Bake blind the pastry case.

2. Boil the potatoes.

3. Soften the leeks for 10 mins in butter.

4. Mix cream, beaten eggs and chopped parsley together.

5. Fill pastry case in this order: salmon, leeks, 50gms grated

cheese. Top with a layer of thinly sliced potatoes.

6. Pour the egg and cream mixture gently over the top and sprinkle

on the remaining cheese.

7. Bake at 180° C (Gas Mark 4) for 35 mins till set and golden.

Add a cocktail stick with a tiny flag on top, and Bob’s your uncle!

Saturday 4th June

The ‘West Way Festival’ is back

On the Saturday of the Jubilee weekend we

will have the first open-air party in the new

West Way shopping centre with music, games,

competitions and entertainment for everyone.

It will run from 2 to 6pm.

There will be a stage on Church Way and more events in the Seacourt

Hall, including a local history exhibition and Jubilee cake competition as

well as tea and cakes to buy, with proceeds going to the Pavilion fund.

Local bands the ‘Botley Crüe’ and ‘Barricane’ will be among the

performers on the outside stage and we will have singers and martial

arts demonstrations from local groups. The Seacourt Bridge will be

running an open-air bar.

Local organisations will have stalls and games, there will be a shop

window competition for children and – as we go to press – we expect to

have a Fire Engine and some classic motorbikes on display. There will

be as much bunting as we can string up around the centre and we are

encouraging the residents to take part too with a balcony decorating

competition.

Please come along to this community celebration. After two years of

restrictions it’s a great opportunity to kick off the summer with a national

and local celebration with your friends, family and neighbours.

Keep an eye out for posters and see our Facebook page for details of

how to enter the baking and other competitions: https://www.

faceboo k .co m /B o tley Ju b ilee 20 22

Kids’ Treasure Hunt

Ten questions about the Queen will be posted in shop windows around

the West Way Centre. Please collect all 10 answers and hand in your

list, along with your name and phone number at the Missing Bean

café by 3rd June. The winner will be announced on 4 June at 4 pm at

the Jubilee celebrations. The sweet prize was donated by McColl’s.

Photo Exhibition

Send your photos, relating to family history, royalty, or earlier jubilee

celebrations to Martin Harris at martin.harris321@gmail.com, as jpgs if

possible. But do it very soon if you haven’t done it already, or you’ll miss

the boat!

2nd Botley Brownies Reach Fifty!!

Moving with the times from a Brownie “Pack” into a Brownie “Unit” – we

are very pleased to report that we made it to our 50th birthday! To

celebrate our half century we held a 50th Birthday Party Tea with a

Campfire at Beanwood on the afternoon of Saturday, 30th April, in bril-

liant sunshine. The glorious bluebells were in great abundance in the

woodland and birds sang their hearts out as we sat outside the old

Beanwood Cottage un-

der our two gazebos eat-

ing a yummy celebration

afternoon buffet tea in-

cluding a bespoke Cele-

bration 50th Birthday

Cake.

Party games were played

under the yards and

yards of bunting put up

especially for the event

and wide games were

played in the acres of

open space behind the

cottage. Girlguiding cele-

bration party sun hats

were worn alongside

specially made “Happy

50th Birthday” pin badg-

es that the Brownies had

coloured in at the previ-

ous meeting. (Snowy

Owl is now a whizz on

the hefty County badge

machine at turning them into little works of art).The joyful afternoon fin-

ished with a traditional Girlguiding Campfire and singsong followed by

the toasting of marshmallows.

So, with fingers crossed, here’s to the next fifty years. We would also

like to reiterate a huge, huge “Girlguiding Thank-You” to all the brilliant

2nd Botley Brownie Leaders, Brownies, Parents and Supporters – past

and present – who have made the last fifty years possible. Everyone

has had so much fun along the way and for that – we THANK-YOU!

Lucy Howes

Botley and Kennington Patients Participation Group

Spring COVID-19 Booster

This is the current position regarding spring booster vaccines. The NHS

offers the booster to all those who are 75 or over, those who live in a

care home for older people and anyone of 12 and over who has a

weakened immune system. You will be contacted by the NHS (not your

GP) when you are due a spring booster, usually around six months after

your last dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

If you have a severely weakened immune system you need to get your

3rd dose before you get a booster. You can ring 119 free of charge to

book an appointment (make sure you have your NHS number to hand).

You may learn about the booster via a text from ‘NHSVaccine’ inviting

you to book an appointment at a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy,

sent to the phone number your GP surgery has listed for you. You may

also get a letter a few days after.

(N.B. The NHS will never ask you for * bank account or card details *

PIN or bank passport * copies of personal documents to prove your

identity, such as passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips * If you think

you have been a victim of fraud or identity theft, report it to Action Fraud

on 0300 123 2040.)

The PPG have organised 22 volunteer car drivers for those patients

who have transport problems, to take them to Kassam Stadium for their

boosters. If you require a lift please telephone Sylvia, a volunteer and

member of our PPG on 07970 626443.

Making a complaint

If you need to make a complaint to the Botley Medical Centre, then you

should do so by old-fashioned letter and keep a hard copy of it. That will

be better than an email, which we have been told may not get read for

some days in some cases.

The letter should be addressed to the Practice Manager.

If you have not had a reply after 48–72 hours, or you are not satisfied

with the response you get, then escalate your complaint to the Care

Quality Commission and the NHS. The surgery should respond after 48

hours, but they have said to us before that current conditions mean they

may take a little longer.

Increasing support for patients

The PPG is working on how its 45 members can develop ways to

provide support to the 16,000 patients of the Botley Medical Centre in

the Botley and Kennington areas. We would also like to know of any

such groups or activities that are already being provided and to make

patients aware of the available support.

Here’s what we would like to see:

• help with access to services for patients struggling with deafness,

loss of eyesight, illiteracy or lack of IT skills;

• walk-in sessions on how to set up WhatsApp, Facebook and other

basic skills needed for smartphones, computers and laptops;

• walking, exercise clubs, befriending support, signposts to other

social opportunities;

• a practice newsletter;

• health and well-being events;

• support for local carers;

• advice on correct processes for patients;

• self-help groups and support networks, including local mother and

baby groups;

• help for patients whose first language is not English;

• signpost or supply of bereavement support service;

• advice about healthy life styles;

• free health & education events including advice and help for new

mums, plus education about child health issues;

• opportunities to meet Parish Councils to hear if we can help with

anything or explain what we do.

If you are already aware of any initiatives such at these, please email

the PPG group via csugden@ocrpl.org

Practice impro v e ments

New Practice Manager The practice have now appointed a new

manager, starting in May 2022. He will be responsible for overseeing

the day-to-day processes at the practice, including Human Resource

management and training for the admin team.

Pharmacy Clerk The new Pharmacy Clerk is in contact with local

pharmacies to smooth processes and times for prescriptions. Although

still in training, she deals with patients and pharmacies’ queries around

prescriptions. She will work with the Clinical Pharmacist to process

patients’ requests so they can reach the pharmacies as soon as

possible. She also deals with all requests from care homes, and is

already having an impact. Care homes’ requests have been reviewed

thoroughly since she started, and a monthly plan has been agreed with

all parties involved. She can’t be contacted directly, as she is part of the

Pharmacist Team and reports to the Lead Pharmacist who is

responsible for the smooth running of the prescribing system. If there

are any problems please contact the practice by letter, email or phone

to let them know.

Lead Nurse A full time Lead Nurse has been appointed, starting in April.

Website impovements A GP Web-Designer has been appointed to help

upgrade the Practice website. It is hoped the upgrade will be finalized

over the next two months or so.

Further Recruitment The practice are looking to appoint another three

GPs so they can offer more services and appointments. (This will be a

challenge in view of the national shortage.) In the interim, the practice

will continue to use locum GPs and to offer LIVI.

How does the practice handle letters from consultants?

Routine letters from consultants, the hospital, or other health care

providers should be processed within five working days of receipt

although staff shortages, sickness, etc, may delay things. If follow-up is

required, the GP receives the document via email with a request to

review and action. Patients will have receiv ed a copy of the letter at the

same time as the practice. If the letter includes a prescription request,

the practice has 14 days to action it. If the need is urgent, the consultant

or hospital should prescribe.

If you have received the letter and are concerned that the practice has

not yet actioned it, you should get in touch with them either by phone

(during non-busy times – after 2pm), by emailing botleymedicalcentre

@nhs.net or by writing a letter to Botley Medical Centre, Elms Road,

Botley, Oxford, OX2 9JS.

Chris Sugden, PPG Secretary

PART TIME RELIEF CARETAKER WORK

Are you interested in occasional local caretaker work? Perhaps

you work in a similar role, with flexibility in your schedule? The

Parish Council are looking for part-time relief Caretakers to

cover holiday and sick leave for the Caretaker for the Louie

Memorial Pavilion and playing fields. Full details online at

/northhinksey-pc.gov.uk/ or call the Parish Clerk on 01865 861992.

Updates from your Vale councillors

Emily Smith and Debby

Hallett are your long-serving

Vale o f White Horse Dis trict

councillors. We are available

to help residents with local

issues related to all the

council’s services. In

addition to being your local

members, we have other

council-wide roles. Debby is

Cabinet Member for

Corporate Services and

Transformation, which includes the Corporate Plan (what we aim to do

in the 2019-23 administration) and the Local Plans and Neighbourhood

Plans (how many houses and jobs we need, and where and how to

build them). Emily is Leader of the Council at Vale, so basically she is

responsible ultimately for everything! (Debby is writing here.)

Emily and I are looking for new and improved ways to stay in touch with

local residents. We already send a monthly report to the parish councils,

with news, info and project progress that we think would interest

councillors and residents. You can see all these reports, dating back to

2011, on my blog:

http://cllrdebbyhallett.com/district-

councillor-reports/ This is my

second column for the Sprout. I

welcome feedback, please let me

know what you’d like to hear about.

Emerging Joint Local Plan 2041

On 12th May Vale and South Ox-

fordshire councils launched our con-

sultation for the new Joint Local Plan

2041. It focuses on the issues facing

both Vale of White Horse and South

Oxfordshire District Councils, and

how we might tackle them. It will run

through 23 June 2022. The councils

agreed to this joint approach in

March 2021, because we share am-

bitions around housing affordability

and the climate emergency, and they

districts

are similar in many ways. Of course there will still be area-specific po-

lices where that makes sense. The plan allows us to outline ways we

can address the climate emergency and enhance our natural environ-

ment, which both councils are determined to do.

We’re really keen for lots of people to take part in creating the Local

Plan, especially those who have never so far engaged with the process,

and so we’re trialing an innovative new, digital approach: we’re using

software called ‘Storymaps’. Through this, users can explore interactive

Local Plan content, and answer quick and easy questions about what

they think the key issues are that the emerging Joint Local Plan should

tackle. For those who want a more traditional approach, we’re also

providing the option to fill out a single survey via the Joint Local Plan

webpage. This is where you can find out all about it:

https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-district-council/pla

nning-and-development/local-plan-and-planning-policies/local-plan-2041/

You can contact both of us by email. I am at Debby.Hallett

@Whitehorsedc.gov.uk and Emily at Emily.Smith@whitehorsedc.gov.uk

Debby Hallett

Botley School Early Years

This summer term had a very exciting start in our Early Years

Foundation Stage, with the arrival

of 10 chickens’ eggs. The children

have been learning about the life

cycle of a hen, and were amazed to

watch the chicks hatch over three

days. We have been learning how

to care for the chicks and the

children in our Reception classes

wrote instructions. The children

spent time watching the chicks,

making observational drawings and

discussing what they were doing.

This activity was an excellent way

to use new vocabulary and a great

way to reinforce descriptive

langu a g e .

We have also been busy planning

our refurbished EYFS gardens.

After fifteen years it is time for a new, more flexible, space which will be

fun, interesting and engaging for our youngest children for many years

to come. The children have been contributing ideas about what might go

into our new garden, as well as helping us create a video for our crowd

funding page. Give online at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/botley-early-years-

playground or give cash/cheques to our office at Botley School, Elms

Road OX2 9JZ.

Laura Jones ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Botley in Bloom

It’s not quite too late! Enter your garden in

the FRONT GARDEN COMPETITION

by 6th June. Email your name and address

and your chosen class to editor@thesprout.org.uk

3 Classes: Best; Best for Wildlife; Jubilee Basket or Box

Sponsored by North Hinksey Parish Council, LeoQuent and The Sprout

The great Botley

BRING AND TAKE

Organised by Sustainable Botley

Reuse, recycle and give a new life to

unwanted stuff for free! Everybody invited

Saturday July 9

2022

St Peter and St Paul Church Hall , Botley

Donations accepted from 10.00 to 11.30

Take away anything you want from 10.30-12.30

All items must be

●

In#a#clean,#reusable#condition!

●

In#a#sealed#bag#or#box#if#with!!"#$%&#'()*!&*+'+$,(-'.($*/,0!

●

of#a#size#you#can#carry#away#on#foot!

(If$your$item$is$too$big$to$carry,&bring&a&photo&and&your&contact&details.)!

We accept:! books,& DVDs,& CDs,& clothes& and& shoes,& curtains,&bedlinen,&

etc,"complete,"boxed"an d"sealed"toys"and"games,"household"items"and"

kitchenware+ (e.g.+ pots,+ pans,+ crockery,+ vases)+ gardening+ items+ (e.g.+

small% spades,% plant% po ts,% baskets)% and% bric-a-brac% (e.g.% ornaments),%

small%electrical%items.%We%also%accept%buggies%and%children’s)bikes)…)and)

help%from%volunteers!%If%you%can%lend%a%hand%on%the%day,%please%contact%

janet.e.hemingway@gmail.com!

We don’t accept:!sharp&objects&(e.g.&knives&and&scissors),&&hou sehol d&

paints'and"other"chemicals"(e.g."weedkiller),"video"cassettes"and"music"

cassettes,' food,' cosmetics' and' toiletries,' bicycle' and' motorcycle'

helmets,(underwear,(pillows,(duvets,(any(item(that(is(dirty(or(broken.!

This%is%a%community%event,% primarily%for%the%residents%of"Botley"–!

traders'afte r '12 pm 'o n ly."

Tereza Barnard

Botley Arts is pleased to welcome Tereza Barnard who is showing her

super-realistic pictures in St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church from 7 May to

the end of June 2022.

The world is speeding up and a lot of

things are but a swipe away. However,

there are emotions that cannot be read

in a split second. With a graduate de-

gree in Psychology, Tereza Barnard (b.

1984) has learnt that hidden, but key,

features take time to be observed and

reveal themselves. Barnard uses real-

ism, narrative elements, and some-

times abstract features to allow her

viewers to slow down, observe the hid-

den layers, and enter the inner worlds

of her sitters as well as her own. In do-

ing so, she hopes they will find beauty,

inspiration, but most notably a time for

themselves to think. Barnard is a self-

taught artist and can take up to three months to finish a painting as she

extensively observes the micro expressions of her subjects.

Barnard’s work has been featured in

publications such as ‘Book of NHS He-

roes’ and ‘The Leonardo Guide’. She

is a finalist in ModPortrait 2021, ARC

15th Salon and her work has been

presented to the jury at Figurativas

2021. More recently she received an

honourable mention in the Blue Re-

view Art Prize. She has exhibited in

galleries across the UK and the United

States, recently exhibiting with the

Royal Society of British Artists at Mall

Galleries

The exhibition is free, but we do ask

that you leave a comment in the

Comments Book! Church opening

hours Mon–Fri 10–4pm, and from 12–

4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Jennie Hopkins

Meet Grahame Godby

Grahame Godby, who helps run the Four Paws dog training club at

Hinksey Heights, had his first dog

prescribed to him by his doctor.

Grahame was six at the time, with

poor eyesight, and his doctor told

his mother “this child needs a dog”.

What a brilliant piece of early social

prescribing!

I asked Grahame what he did

before he started Four Paws in

2008, and he came out with the

most amazing list of jobs. He

started as a butcher whilst still in

school, and also taught judo in his

spare time because “not being able

to see well is an actual advantage

in judo”. Grahame got his black belt, and only retired from judo

teaching when he was about 40.

Meanwhile, after giving up being a butcher in the mid-70s, Grahame

worked for British Leyland for a short time, at a period when there were

lots of strikes. Having always wanted to work with fish, he moved on to

work at the Goldfish Bowl on Magdalen Road. He was the quarantine

manager there, responsible for checking and treating imported fish.

When the Goldfish Bowl closed its wholesale business, Grahame

opened up his own fish business, Aqualand, in Windmill Road in

Headington. That closed down a few years later because of the

increa se in business rates.

Grahame then went on to do a range of jobs, including installing

kitchens and bathrooms. Most recently, he has been caretaker and

health & safety manager at a school. He took partial retirement last

year after this amazing portfolio career…

… which brings me on to Four Paws. Grahame got his first rescue

German Shepherd – Miss Ellie, named after the character from the

television show Dallas – shortly after he got married. To train her, he

borrowed books, talked to people, and most importantly watched how

Dr Ian Dunbar trained dogs. At the time, Barbara Woodhouse’s

approach, which focuses on gaining dominance over the dogs by the

use of choke collars and sharp commands, was fashionable. Ian

Dunbar, instead, promoted reward -based training, where dogs are

rewarded when they do things right rather than being told off when they

do things wrong.

“Ian just amazed me,” says Grahame. “His approach is longer-lasting

and has stable results. When I went to his first seminar, I was the only

man on the four-day course. Men seemed to be good at corrective

training [the Barbara Woodhouse approach] and women at reward-

based training. I’m pleased that more men are taking up reward-based

training now, because it’s definitely the best way to train dogs”.

Since then, Grahame and his wife have owned seven dogs, of which six

have been German Shepherds. The first few he got as puppies through

a rescue centre. Then, when he bought his first pedigree dog and took

that dog to classes, Grahame found that, through his reading and

working with his own dogs, his knowledge was already extensive. He

became a dog trainer himself at the club, and then, 14 years ago,

helped to set up Four Paws with other like-minded trainers. At first it ran

in a horse manège at Weston on the Green, but in 2016 Four Paws

moved to Hinksey Heights.

Riki Therivel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PILLOW TALK –

art installation and protest against femicide

at the church of St. Peter & St. Paul, West Way

with a vigil of remembrance for all women killed by men

outside the church on Saturday 25th June at 7.30pm.

Did you know that during 2021 at least 140 women were killed by men

in the UK? They ranged in age from teens to nineties and were from all

cultural backgrounds.

Violence against women is endemic in the world, and since the deaths

of sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman in 2020 and Sabina Nessa

and Sarah Everard in 2021, voices of women (and men too) have risen

in protest against femicide, which is the most extreme form of gender-

based violence, and is defined as the ‘intentional murder of women

because they are women’.

In her installation, Pillow Talk, local artist Alice Brookes gives expression

to the pain and outrage experienced by families who experience

domestic violence, as well as encouraging us all to speak up for women

and children at risk in abusive relationships.

Join us to honour the memories of women who have died in this way, to

listen to invited speakers (TBC) and to share a glass of wine.

Botley’s Hedgehog Highway

Hedgehog Awareness Week is organised every May by the British

Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), who remind us once again that

the best thing we can do for hedgehog conservation is to ensure that

our gardens have permeable boundaries. A 15cm square hole in a gar-

den fence or gate can make all the difference. It ensures that hedge-

hogs can roam sufficiently far to forage for food and find mates. Insuffi-

cient roaming distances force hedgehogs into busy roads or lead to un-

sustainable inter-breeding amongst isolated populations.

Conducted annually for a decade, the most recent ‘State of Britain’s

Hedgehogs’ report has noted encouraging signs that these ‘hedgehog

highways’ between gardens may be having an impact in reversing the

national decline in hedgehog numbers.

As a local BHPS member, I’m thus

once again encouraging local residents

to add to the Botley hedgehog high-

way, particularly in areas where new

fences may have recently gone up or

where solid side gates have been in-

stalled at the side of properties. As in

previous years, I also have five

Hedgehog Highway signs to give away

to the first five Sprout readers who cre-

ate a new hedgehog access point and

email a photo to rog-

er.dalrymple@spc.oxon.org.

Thank you for your efforts to support

our local hedgehog population.

Roger Dalrymple

Osney Supercharge

Botley householders may be interested to know that a group of

households and businesses on Osney Island have signed up to

generate and store their own electricity as part of a government-backed

project called Local Energy Oxfordshire: https://project-leo.co .u k /. The

project is exploring the potential of local generation to create extra

capacity on the local electricity network, cut carbon emissions, and

reduce energy bills.

In the coming decades there will be a huge shift to using electric cars,

and electric heating for homes and businesses. This will create

increased demand and stress on the electricity network. We need to find

ways to generate green electricity at community level, and to spread

use of power throughout the day, to help the network handle this new

level of demand.

Osney Island is one of six neighbourhood projects taking part in Project

LEO. The local community is already active in trying to reduce its

carbon emissions. There is the famous 50kW hydro generation scheme,

with 9kW of solar panels on the roof, owned by Osney Lock Hydro

Limited, a community benefit company. There are also solar installations

on some Osney rooftops, nearby at the community centre and on the

university estate. Several households have already switched to using

eVs, and an electric club car is being sought.

Properties taking part in Osney Supercharge are having solar PV roof

panels installed, along with batteries to store the power these generate.

The project will collect data on how much power each house generates

and how much it uses. It will work out the impact this has on reducing

demand on the network and the potential for cutting energy supply

costs. Households will either pay for the kit themselves, or Low Carbon

Hub (a Project LEO partner) will own the kit and sell the electricity it

generates back to the homeowner.

By the end of the project, we hope that

• We will have a clearer picture of our electricity consumption, and

how we can use local generation and storage to manage demand.

• Residents will have greater understanding of the different ways

they as individuals, and collectively, can move to zero emissions for

their homes and transport, and will be more able to influence how that

happens.

• Osney Lock Hydro’s generation will be increased by automating

river flow at the weir.

• The business case for adding battery storage to the local elec-

tricity network will have been assessed.

• The community will have trialled different electric vehicles, in-

cluding e-bikes, and different ways of owning or accessing them.

• Residents’ electric vehicles (privately owned or a car club) will

be powered by local renewable energy, or steps to achieve this will have

been identified.

• The electric fleet used by the Environment Agency depot on

Swan Street will be powered using green electricity from the hydro.

Simon Collings

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS

P22/V0082/FUL

Land adjacent to 16 Yarnells Road.

New dwelling with amended roof

design to that previously approved

under P17/V00205/FUL.

8 April

Target

Decision Date:

3 June

P22/V0923/PDH

43 Montagu Rd. Single storey rear

extension. Depth 5m Height 2.95m.

11 April

TDD: 23 May

P22/V1052/HH

11 Cumnor Rise Rd. Single storey

rear/side extension, replacing

existing extension.

27 April

TDD: 22 June

P22/V1052/HH

51 Yarnells Hill. Extension to

existing small brick outbuilding to

rear with new entrance.

28 April

TDD: 23 June

P22/V1064/HH

3 Toynbee Close. Single storey rear

extension. (P21/V3169/H H again)

28 April

TDD: 23 June

P22/V1070/PDH

71 Arthray Rd. Single storey rear

extension: Depth 6m Height 3m

Height to eaves 2.9m.

29 April

TDD: 10 June

P22/V1077/HH

127 Southern Bypass. Garage to

habitable room and single storey

extensions to front and rear.

3 May

TDD: 28 June

Sunny Sundays on the Field

The Pop-up Café in the

Louie Memorial Pavilion

has now been going for six

years (give or take a few

lockdowns). It’s been a

great way for local people

to meet up on warm

Sunday afternoons for a

cup of tea, a piece of cake,

some uplifting music and to

give the kids a chance to

run around.

More recently, the Pavilion

Trust have invited

individ u a ls and groups to run it themselves and raise money for a cause

close to their heart. This allowed new people to take part in the

operation, and allowed the pavilion, although old and dilapidated, to

keep on doing what it does best: provide a meeting place for the local

community. When we put the call out for people to run the event this

year, we quickly found every Sunday had been taken, bar one at the

end of August. A wide range of groups will be running the Café, all

raising money for excellent causes. Here is the schedule:

12 June Support Ukrainians in Oxford

19 June Botley Boys and Girls football club

26.June Cradle (pregnanc y-loss charity)

3 July One-Eighty (young people’s mental health charity)

10 July FOBS – Botley School PTA

17July Botley Bikers (food for people without homes)

24 July Nature Trail volunteers

31 July Prostate Cancer

7 August Scout World Jamboree

14 August Botley Bridges

21 August Free for booking at the moment

28 August Skatepark

4 Sept Last Café of 2022, Louie Memorial Pavilion Trust AGM

If you have any questions or would like to help please contact the

trustees at lou ie m e morialp a v ilio n @gm a il.c o m And do come along and

enjoy a Sunday afternoon with local friends in the sunshine.

Sundays, 3–5pm at the Louie Memorial Pavilion – put it in your diaries!

Talking Therapy Can C hange your Life – Here’s How!

Mental health awareness week took place last month – did you know

that one in four of us is experiencing mental health difficulties at any one

time? If we want to enjoy our lives we need to pay attention to our

mental health and look after ourselves.

We’re only here for a bit, and yet one of the hardest things is for us to

live our lives to the full, seize the day and all that. Life is often

challenging, and it is all too easy to find ourselves feeling stressed, tied

to a hamster-wheel that can be relentless and overwhelming. As well

as the usual life-challenges, we are frequently faced with the

unexpected: a pandemic, bereavement, ill health, relationship

breakdown, cost of living concerns and so on. When the going gets

tough, it is useful to develop ways to help you navigate your

circumstances whatever the individual challenges.

Evidence-based talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural

Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Eye Movement

Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) can teach you tools

and strategies that are helpful when things are difficult. These talking

therapies help you to make sense of what is happening to you and see

how the way you react to things now, stems from your past experience.

Working with a therapist you can learn skills that enable you to live your

life more helpfully: letting go of past hurts and regrets as well as

learning not to think ahead and worry too much about challenges that

may or may not be around the corner.

A wide range of difficulties can be worked on, including anxiety, stress,

low mood, depression, self-criticism, low self-esteem, relationship

difficulties, perfectionism, procrastination, assertiveness, trauma,

complex grief, health anxiety and social anxiety. Individual therapy may

also include techniques from a range of approaches such as

Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).

“You can’t stop the waves,” as Jon Kabat-Zinn put it, “but you can learn

to surf.”

Anyone and everyone can learn something to help them live their lives

in the way they want to, surfing the waves and becoming the person

they want to be. For more information on how evidence-based talking

therapy could help you, contact me on esther@cbt-oxford.co.uk or call

07774 687872. I work in the NHS and as a private clinician, trainer and

clinical supervisor. Esther McNeile Jones

Worth the Wait

After two years in the planning stage 12 Scouts and fo u r Leaders from

the 15th Oxford Scouts finally embarked on the much delayed Spring

Camp over the Early May Bank Holiday. The setting was The Burrow, a

wonderful bunkhouse with retractable roof set into the hillside at Biblins

Campsite in the Wye Valley. Arriving on Friday evening to the now

almost traditional first night tea of hot dogs, this was for some their first

night away from home, and for many an event that had been much

anticipated as Scouting returns to normality. Games in the dark, a

roaring campfire and outdoor experiences are all very much at the heart

of Scouting with the 15th, and were very much evident throughout the

camp.

The undoubted highlight was the Saturday afternoon, spent canoeing

on the River Wye. Activities such as this aren’t always accessible to

Scouts, so the opportunity to paddle up and down the River for a few

hours was fantastic. The river exploration was accompanied by canoe-

based games of tag, river netball, sprint races and some perilous

standing up (I’m sure some Scouts secretly wanted to fall in – the

weather was glorious!).

As all dried off, and the

Leaders at least realized

how much they ached from

the physical recreation, map

work was the order of the

day, in preparation for

Sunday’s hike up Symonds

Yat. Thankfully the weather

was cooler on Sunday, but

all those who know the area well will appreciate just how much of an

incline it is. With typical Scout spirit everyone used their map reading,

navigational skills and camaraderie to make it up to a viewpoint that

really is worth the walk. No peregrine falcons were seen on the day, but

an ice cream or two was spotted after the walk down, to round off the

camp.

There are plenty more adventures like this planned for both the 15th

Oxford Cubs and Scouts this year, and we are always happy to

welcome more young people aged 8–18 to experience them with us.

For more info (or to become an adult volunteer) em ail us at

xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk or search for our website on Google.

Tom Freem an

Randoms

No Messy Church in June

The next Messy Church at St. Peter and St. Paul will be Saturday 2nd

July 4–6pm. There will be no Messy Church in June, as previously

advertised.

West Oxford U3A: June Talks

We meet on the second and fourth Mondays of the month, at Dean

Court Community Centre, Pinnocks Way, starting at 2.30pm and

finishing with tea and biscuits. Our talks this month are:

13th June: "Inside the World of a Film and TV Extra" by Peter

Hague Until a couple of years ago, Peter Hague combined the role of

professional drummer with his work in film and TV studios. In this talk

Peter will explain what happens on a typical day as far as "Extras" are

concerned, which – he says – gives rise to more than a few anecdotes.

We look forward to learning more!

27th June: "An Heir and a Spare" by Graham Horn – Graham is a

highly experienced and qualified Blue Badge Tourist Guide and tour

leader. He also finds time to research family histories, often of the

aristocracy, which provide him with material for his talks.

No talks in July and August, but we’ll be back on 12th September, with

an illustrated talk from wildlife photographer David Bailey. Our walking

group will be exploring the County, while our craft, gardening and read-

ing groups will hold sessions during June. Do get in touch if you’d like to

attend our meetings; visitors are always welcome.”

Coaching Opportunity

Botley Boys and Girls Football Club, based between the Fogwell Rd

pitch in Dean Court and Louie Memorial upper field, is on the hunt for a

new coach for one of its teams. Could this be you?!

The U11s (soon to be U12s) are a great bunch of kids and would love to

continue playing in the league. However, their current coach is standing

down and we need someone to take the reins in this voluntary position.

You'd have the support of a determined group of parents and carers,

who would welcome you with open arms and do everything to help you

settle into the role.

So, what are we looking for?

• First off, enthusiasm and a can-do attitude!

•

• Availability to train the team one evening per week and attend

matches on Sundays

• A team player to work alongside the team manager

• Willingness to undertake a level 1 coaching qualification (this will be

paid for by the Club and can be done while you are coaching)

• Ideally, someone who appreciates a good biscuit and doesn't mind a

spot of mud!

If you think this could be you, or if you know someone who might fit the

bill, please contact the Club Secretary, Terri Matthews, on

clubsecretarybbgfc@gmail.com to discuss further.

Botley W.I.

Botley WI’s Centenary Extension project was opened on Saturday 14th

May by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ox-

fordshire, Lady Baker (seen here cutting

the tape). It was the completion of a long

planned improvement to the hall, which we

hope will be our legacy for our second

hundred years.

On 7th June 7:30 pm our speaker, Gillian

Walnes Perry, will tell us about the Great

Wall of China. Our group will also hold a

Race Night on 17th June. We have a new programme of activities to

look forward to for the forthcoming year.

Home Library Service

If you (or someone you know) are finding it difficult to get to the library,

the Home Library Service can help! It is completely free and delivers

books and other library materials to hundreds of people across the

county. Friendly volunteers choose items you like and visit every three

weeks to deliver and collect them.

The service is run by the County Council and is open to people who

struggle to physically visit a library. It’s also available on a short-term

basis after illness or hospitalisation, and to people with caring responsi-

bilities. It’s easy to register – simply call your local library or the Home

Library Service on 01865 810259 or email homelibraryservice

@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Kennington Memory Club

Kennington Memory Club’s Day Centre for people with dementia prides

itself on the service it provides to those who attend – our members.

With three staff, assisted by a band of volunteers, the sessions run very

smoothly. This is a very good staff to member ratio and ensures that the

support given to our members is the very best. Personal care can be

provided as needed and the varying individual needs of members can

be met. Activities are tailored to the interests of those present.

Sometimes a member will just want to sit and chat and not join in with

what others are doing at that time. That’s OK too, as there will always

be a member of staff or a volunteer available and happy to do just that.

At the end of the day, the members go home content and relaxed and

their carers have had the bonus of a few hours free from their

responsibilities.

If you know of anyone who would like more information about the Club’s

Day Centre, please suggest a phone call to our Organiser, Helen, on

07852 883496 or direct them to our website. It’s not just for people in

Kennington, but from a much wider area, taking in Abingdon, Botley,

Cumnor, Radley, and Wootton. www.kenningtonmemoryclub.org.uk

4th Oxford Scout Group community funday

4th Oxford Scout Group are organising a community funday on

Saturday 18th June, for all ages, from 1-5pm at Oxford Rugby Club in

North Hinksey – please come and enjoy. Activities include: a 7m

climbing tower, archery from Oxford Archers, football fun from Cumnor

Minors, introductions to tennis with the Oxford Sports Lawn Tennis Club,

pony riding, bouncy castle and an obstacle course, plus lots more

activities to have a go at. Try out Oxfordshire Girl Guides' high rope

bridge, and try to build a smaller version of your own. Oxford Rugby

Club will provide food from their kitchen, open their bar and provide

touch rugby. Radio Cherwell are running the sound system. An amateur

radio station will be part of the Oxford/Bonn link 75th anniversary

festivities.

Saturdads

This Saturday session for Dads and their young children is starting

again on 11th June, 11-12 noon at Botley Bridges in Elms Road, and on

the first Saturday of the month thereafter. Just drop in – there’s no need

to book. Further info from coordinator@botleybridges.org

Organizations: If your organization is not listed here, please send details

to editor@thesprout.org.uk or telephone 724452 for inclusion.

1st Botley Brownies

Girls aged 7–10

Dean Court Community Centre Thur 6–7.30 Jean

Metson, firstbotleybrownies@g m a il.com

2nd Botley Brownies

Girls aged 7–10

Rosary Room, Yarnells Hill. Tues 6:15-7:45 Alison

Griffin 2ndbotleybrownies@outlook.com

4th Oxford Scout Group

Beavers, Cub Scouts, Scouts

mail@thefourth.org.uk Website:

http://www.thefourth.org.uk/

15th Oxford Scout Group

Boys and girls welcome

Fridays, Cubs 6.30-8, Scouts 8-9.30, Pavilion, Fogwell Rd.

Amy Cusden (Cubs) 07887 654386, Tom Freeman (Scouts)

07837 623768 xvoxfordscouts@yahoo.co.uk

Baby & Toddler Group

Tues/Thurs 9.15–11, SS Peter & Paul Church Hall

BikeSafe. B4044 community

path campaign

Wants to connect Botley to Eynsham. Meets every 6-8

weeks. Contact via website B4044path.org

Books on Wheels R.V.S.

Free Library Service for housebound Ox. 248142

Botley Boys & Girls F.C.

Football teams from ages 8-16

Brendan Byrne 792531

brendan.byrne999@gmail.com

Botley Community Larder

Thursdays, 3.30 to 5.30 at St P&P Church Hall, West

Way, Facebook or email botleylarder@gmail.com

Botley and Kennington

Patients Participation Group

Second Tuesday in the Month, early evening.

Contact csugden@ocrpl.org

Botley Library

07922 849680. Open till 7 on Friday and 1pm on Sat,

otherwise 9.30 to 5.30 (closed Wednesdays).

Botley Seniors Lunch Club

Alternate Thursdays. Seacourt Hall. Jackie Warner

Ox.721386

Cumnor Choral Society

Friday 7.45 to 9.45 pm John May 07795 054142 or

www.cumnorchoralsociety.wordpress.com

Cumnor Chess Club

Thurs 7–9pm Cumnor Old School. Steven Bennett

01993 684494 www.cumnorchessclub.co.uk

Cumnor & District

Historical Society

Last Monday of the month 7.30-9.00 Cumnor Old

School. 01865 724808

Cumnor Gardening Club

http://cumnorgardens.org.uk/

or phone 01865 721026

Harmony InSpires, Ladies'

Acappella Singing Group

Wed 7.30 at Appleton Village Hall. C. Casson 01235

831352 or harmonyinspires@hotmail.co.uk

Hill End Volunteer Team

Contact: David Millin on david.millin@hill-end.org,

call 863510 or visit www.hillend-oec.co.uk

Lawn Tennis Club, N Hinksey

Family club Email: Tennis@OxfordSportsLTC.org

West Oxford Singing Circle

Weds 2-3pm, WOCC, Emily 07969 522368 or see

www.emilyschoirs.co.uk

Morris Dancing – Cry Havoc

Barbara Brett 249599 or bag@cryhavoc.org.uk

North Hinksey Preschool

and Childcare clubs

Mon–Fri 7.45am–6.00 pm. Tel 794287 or email

nhps.manager1@gmail.com

N Hinksey Art Group

Weds 10–12.00 W.I. Hall Christina 07931 707997

N Hinksey Bellringers

Contact: Ray Rook 01865 241451

N Hinksey Conservation

Volunt eers

Meets at weekends Contact Voirrey Carr

07798743121 voirreyc@aol.com

N Hinksey, Friends of

Annual Cricket Match/ Walk. Douglas Bond 791213.

N Hinksey Parish Council

clerk@northhinksey-pc.gov.uk

N Hinksey Youth Club

Weds at LM pavilion, Daz: 07791 212866 or F’book

Oxford Flood Alliance

R Thurston 01865 723663 or 07973 292035

Oxford Flower Arranging

Club

4th Thursday Cumnor. Dympna Walker: Ox 865259

Oxford Harmony

Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30 pm at Seacourt Hall

Contact pro@oxfordharmony.co.uk

Oxford Otters

Swimming for people with disabilities. Sundays,

twice monthly. Contact: Alan Cusden 723420

Oxford Rugby Club

Boys and girls from 5, kevin.honner@ntlworld.com

Seniors, training etc jbrodley@chandlings.org.uk.

Raleigh Park, Friends of

raleighpark@raleighp ark.o rg.uk

Seacourt Hall Management

Committee

Contact Lottie White, 07452 960100, or see

https://www.seacourthall.org.uk

Shotokan Karate Club

6+ WOCC twice weekly

Martyn King 07836 646450

Stagecoach Botley

Seacourt Hall, Saturdays 9:00am–3pm Performing

Arts for 4-16 yr-olds Oxf 590510 or 01235 390810

Well-Being Walks, Botley

2nd & 4th Saturdays 9.50 Louie Memorial Field car

park, Arnolds Way. Ashley 07717 714477

West Oxford Bowls Club

Dave Ellerker 07931 603801

wobc.membership@gmail.com

West Oxford Taekwon Do

Club

Mon, Thurs 6.30-8pm, MA gym, contact Chris Hall

01865 570291 www.wotkd.co.uk

West Oxford U3A

(Uni of the 3rd Age) http://westoxfordu3a.org.uk/

West Way Day Centre

Mon & Fri 10–3pm, Field House, 07740 611971.

oxfordshirehub@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

Women’s Institute (Botley)

Alison Jenner 07598 251161

alisonjenner@yahoo.com

Weight Watchers

Thursdays 6pm at SS Peter & Paul Church Hall

Banso tel: 07779 253899 bansob@aol.com

Baptist Hall

1 Church Way

Contact: Diane Melchert 01865 243664

botleybaptistchurch@gmail.com

The Rosary Room

Yarnells Hill, Elms Rise

Contact Maria Brown,

Te l: 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 7 9 8 6 .

SS Peter & Paul Church

Hall, West Way, Botley

Contact: 01865 242057 or

osneybenefice@outlook.com.

Women's Institute Hall,

North Hinksey Lane

Contact: Val Warner

Te l. 0 1 8 6 5 2 4 5 2 7 3

Seacourt Hall,

3 Church Way

Contact: Lottie White on 07452 960100,

or email admin@seacourthall.org.uk

Pavilion, Arnold’s Way,

Elms Rise, Botley

Contact: Darren Blase 241254

louiememorialpav ilio n@gm ail.c o m

Oxford Rugby Club,

North Hinksey Village

Contact:. Mary Bagnall

mary.bagnall1@btinternet.com.

North Hinksey & Botley Churches

Times of Services (once resumed) and Contacts

St. Lawrence, Church of England, North Hinksey Lane

1st, 2nd, 4

, 5

Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion

3 rd Sunday 11.30am Matins

St. Peter and St. Paul, Church of England, West Way

Sundays 9.30am Holy Communion

Wednesdays 10.30am Holy Communion in Chapel of Holy Spirit

1st Saturday each month, 4–5.30pm Messy Church for children and carers

Rev Clare Sykes, Tel. 01865 242345 or revclare@btinternet.com

See table above for Church Hall enquiries.

Our Lady of the Rosary, Roman Catholic, Ya rnells Hill

Saturday 6.30pm Mass

Sunday 9.15am Mass

Fr Daniel Lloyd 07584 323915 dlloyd@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.

Botley Baptist Church, 1 Church Way

Sunday Service 11 am.

Wednesday Zoom Bible Study 7.30pm

Choir practice Thursday 2pm

Diane Melchert 07742 662668 www.botleybaptistchurch.org

Calvary Chapel

Sunday services held at Botley School 10.30–12 noon

Pastor Philip Vickery 01865 864498

calvarychapeloxford@yahoo.co.uk;

www.calvarychapeloxford.org.uk

What’s On

June

Thur 2nd 7pm, Louie Memorial Fields, Jubilee Party, 9.45pm

Lighting the Beacon

Sat 4th 2–6pm, West Way Jubilee Festival

Mon 6th Entry deadline for Botley in Bloom (email

editor@thesprout.org.uk)

Thur 9th 12.30pm, Seacourt Hall, Seniors Lunch Club. Also

on 16th and 23rd

Sun 12th 3–5pm, LM Pavilion, first Pop-up Café in support of

Ukrainians in Oxford

Mon 13th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk

about being a Film Extra by Peter Hague

Sat 18th 1–5pm, Rugby Grounds, North Hinksey, 4th Oxford

Scouts Community Fun Day

Sat 25th 7.30pm, at Ss Peter and Paul Church, Pillow talk – art

installation and protest against femicide

Mon 27th 2.30pm, Dean Court Community Centre, U3A talk: ‘An

Heir and a Spare’ by Graham Horn

July

Sat 2nd 4–6pm, Ss Peter and Paul Church, next Messy Church

for children

Sat 9th 10.30–12.30, Ss Peter and Paul Church Hall, Great

Botley Bring & Take